Combined insole and arch support



March 26, 1929. w. M DONALD COMBINED INSOLE AND ARCH SUPPORT Filed Sept. 13, 1926 Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

PATENT.

series. I

WILLIAM MACDONALD, OF HOMEWOOD, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED INSOLE AND ARCH SUPPORT.

Application filed September 13, 1926. Serial No. 135,360.

This invention relates, broadly speaking, to foot appliances, but has particular relation to'a type of such appliances employed mainly beneath the sole of a foot andin cooperation with the parts or elements comprising the arch support thereof, and it consists in certain peculiarities of the'construction, novel features, arrangement and combination of the various parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

Theprincipal object of the invention, as its name implies, is the provision of a unitary or combined insole and arch support which shall be very simple in construction, strong,

durable and efficient in operation.

Another object of the invention, is to provide an insole with an arch support associated therewith, of such construction and arrangement ofits parts that the insole when I placed in a shoe will locate and hold the arch supporting elements in the proper position for cooperation with the arch of the foot, and also, so that the arch support being combined with the insole, will very accurately hold the latter in the proper position for its cooperation with the'sole of the foot. r

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be disclosed in the following eX- planation and description, which will be more readily understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, which illustrates an embodiment of whichthe invention is susceptible, it being undertstood that changes and modifications may be resorted to without a departure from the essence of the invention, so long as they fall" within the scope of the appended claims forming a part of this specification.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a combined insole and arch support embodying the in-' vention.

Fig. 2 is a reversed or bottom plan view of the same. 7 I

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3'3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. i is a similar view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a like view taken on line 55 of Fig.1 as indicated by the arrows and Fig. 6 is a detail view of the reenforcing spring detached.

Corresponding numerals of reference refer to like parts throughout the different views of the drawing. i

The reference numeral 6 designates Lie front or toe portion, while the numeral 7 indicates the rear or heel portion of the insole. This insole may be made of any suitable size and material and as is clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, is pro-'' vided along one of 1ts sides with an upwardly curved portion8, theconcave side of which curved portion lies so that when located in a shoe it will longitudinally contact with the arch of the foot. For this reason the curved portion 8, which is located on that side of the insole adjacent the foot arch, is longitudinally extended from the front portion of the heel part of the insole to a point located at about the front portion of the arch, or so as to join the rear part of the forward portion of the insole, asis clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the"drawing.

By reference to the drawing, especially to Figs. 3 and 5 thereof, it will be seen and understood that the leather or material out of which the insole is made, tapers slightly from its rear end to the front or toe end thereof. It will also be understood by reference to Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive of the drawing, that the side edges of the insole are slightly outwardly beveled and upturned. The above named construction of the insole, not only affords a part to fit the shoe in which it is located, but also affords more comfortto the foot of the wearer of the insole, as well as to afford a slight tendency to force the foot forwardly. l

. Furthermore, while locating the upwardly curved portion 8 so as to extend upwardly from the inner edge of the insole between the front part of the heel portion and the rear part of the forward portion of the insole, it is obvious that said curved portion will be positioned so as to cooperate with the arch of the foot at all times, and so that neither the curved part nor the insole can slip or be misplaced from their proper positions.

Longitudinally mounted on the bottom of the insole near its side edge adjacent the up turned portion 8, is the base portion 9 of a strong steel spring, which spring is secured near each of its ends by a rivet 10 to the insole and is normally curved upwardly to fit the upwardly and longitudinal bent portion 11 of the insole at about the base of the curved part 8, which base'portion 9 of the spring will prevent the leather insole from ill breaking down at the longitudinally bent portion 11 (seeFigs. 1 and 2-05 the drawing) To strengthen and reenforce the upturned part 8 the base portion 9 of the spring is provided near its front end with a diagonally and upwardly extended spring arm 12 which projects along, against and near the front upper edge or the curved portion 8 and serves to support the same against the arch of the foot with comfort and resiliency.

Thus it will be understood, that the base portion 9 of the spring will normally lie in an upwardly bowed position in the upwardly bent portion 11 oi; the insole, and that the arm 12 will be curved. to correspond with the curve of the portion 8 and will yieldingly rest against the outside of said )ortion, and that manifestly the curved portion 8, the base portion 9 of the spring, and the resilient arm 12 combined will afford a very etlicient and comfortable support for the arch oi the foot.

From the foregoing and by reference to the drawing, it will be seen and understood that by my improvements, 1 have provided a combined insole and arch support so asso ciated with respect to one another that they form a unit, and cooperate with one another in suclra way as to hold one on the other in proper and constant correct position for each to perform its function and without liability of either being mis-placed with respect to the other. Furthermore, by employing the spring comprising; the base portion 9 thereof, and the arm 12 constructed and arranged as disclosed, it is apparent that great durability, satisfactory resiliency and reentorcement to the leather portion or" the arch support will be aliorded.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1.. In a combined insole and arch support, the combination with a forwardly tapered insole of a size to cover the entire inner sole portion of a shoe, said insole having at one of its edges an upturned and: curved portion extending longitudinally from the front of the heel portion. of the insole to a point on o arch r-zupport,

one the combination of an; insole having its side edges outwardly beveled and upturned, said insole having at one (xiii its edges an ir turi-ie'd and curred tiortion, of a rein orcing spring tor the arch support, comprising. a longitudinally extended and normally upwardly bent base portion secured near its ends to thebottom of the insole at the base oat said upturned and curved portion, said base portion having; an upwardly and diagonally extended spring arm. resting against the front upper portion of said upturned and curved portion.

in a combined insole, and arch support, the combination of an insole having its side edges outwardly beveled and slightly upturned, said insole having at one of itsedges 3 turned and an upturned and curved portion extending I longitudinally from the front oi the heel portion of the insole to a point on the same at about the front part of the arch of the foot,

said upturned portion being an integral part of said insole, of a reinforcing spring for the arch support comprising. a longitudinally extended and normally upwardly bent base portion secured near its ends to the bottomof the insole at the base of saidupturned and! curved portion, said base portion of the spring having an upwardly and diagonally extended spring arm resting against the front upper portion oi? said upturned and curved portion.

lVliLLlZAll I lViAcDONALD. 

